Protocol One by Jacqueline Druga

Author:Jacqueline Druga [Druga, Jacqueline]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-11-28T05:00:00+00:00

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Tony and I ran top speed down the stairs and to the switch room. There was a feeling of hope that consumed me. Yes, it had only been two weeks since impact, but to suspect life extended farther than our bunker was one thing. To know it was another.

We arrived and Tom looked as if he felt agitated.

“What’s wrong?” Tony asked.

“They aren’t saying much,” Tom replied.

“Bad signal?”

“It’s not great, but it’s there. They just aren’t saying much. Like they’re playing games.”

“Can it be local? Maybe the fire hall?” Tony suggested.

“I doubt it. They’re gonna need some power behind the antenna. Knowing the limitations with the cotton candy cloud, I’m gonna say this is not local. I mean it could be.”

“But you think it’s one of the three. Which one? Omega Man, Damnation Alley, or Threads?”

I interrupted. “Wait. You just named movies.”

“Yes,” Tony replied. “The secret bunkers were named after disaster and apocalypse movies.”

“That is so ridiculous. You probably just reached locals who are saying, Yeah, we’re Omega Man.”

Tom shook his head. “No. I did not call out to them. I just called out. They replied Damnation Alley.”

Tony’s eyes widened. “Oh my God.”

“What?” I asked.

“That’s the main one. That’s the one in Texas where Gil went.”

Another instant shot of adrenaline filled my body and I could feel the blood pump fast.

“What did you ask them?” Tony questioned Tom.

“I asked them to verify their location and how many survivors. They said it was classified.”

Tony immediately grabbed the radio. “I’ll try.” He pressed down to speak. “Damnation Alley Damnation Alley, do you read?”

“Roger that. Loud and clear.”

We may have been loud and clear to them, but there was a lot of static coming from their end. We still could understand them.

“We are a survival Station in North East Pennsylvania called Protocol One.” Tony said.

“Never heard of it.”

“We have survivors.”

“Congratulations on survival. Please know there is nothing this station can do for you at this time.”

Tony pulled his hand away. “What an asshole.”

“Told you,” Tom said.

Tony tried again. “Damnation Alley, we are a privately funded shelter with a VIP and scientific experts.”

“We have VIPS and scientific experts too.”

Tony groaned and looked at me. “What is this? My bunker is better than yours? What the fuck. Sorry.” He depressed the button again. “Damnation Alley I am not playing games with you. My name is Anthony Garrison of Global Security and with me is Anna Jenner. Former wife of Senator Gil Jenner. We know your location and I can spew forth the list of VIPs that you have there, but I won’t. Since you won’t give me any information, can you at least get a message to Senator Gil Jenner?”

Nothing.

“Damnation Alley, come in.”

Finally, they returned, and they had lost their arrogant tone. “Protocol One, Senator Jenner never arrived at the facility.”

The second I heard that, I wheezed out all the air from my body and stepped back. Tony tried not to show emotion but I saw it. He froze for a second, hand hovering over the microphone while his jaws clenched.

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